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Intel and telcos left in virtual RAN limbo by rise of AI RAN
A multitude of general-purpose and specialist silicon options now confronts the world's 5G community, while Intel's future in telecom remains uncertain.
SoftBank Corp's new partnership with Intelsat is not the first 5G-satellite collaboration, but it seems to be the first to take a global approach.
The partners want to build a hybrid solution that would allow a device to stay connected via a mobile or satellite network anywhere in the world through a single device and a single account.
They say a big priority will be development of a "universal device that will roam seamlessly" between mobile and satellite and stay connected.
One reason for this is because, unlike most of the other telco-satellite services being rolled out, this one will be based on Intelsat's GEOsat fleet, which will demand a lot more from earthbound devices than those connecting to LEOsats.
They say the new devices will be based on new 3GPP 5G NTN specifications, allowing for existing satellite terminals to be used in the near-term, and then migrating to newer 5G-based terminals as they become available.
The partners will target segments such as maritime, disaster response and land mobile. Beyond that they offer little further detail, other than that they will build on the current roaming architectures.
Domestic focus
The obvious regional comparison is with China Telecom, which has been running a service off its three Tiantong geosats in mainland China for several years.
In May it launched a new international mobile and satellite service out of Hong Kong aimed at its coverage area in east Asia and the western Pacific – a much more limited scale than Intelsat's global network. China Telecom says it already has ten terminals available from Chinese device players.
Besides that project, there've been a slew of satellite or high-altitude comms mobile announcements across Asia this year, but they are all domestically focused.
The most advanced is KDDI, which says it will launch direct to device service via Starlink by the end of the year. It's the same service that telcos such as T-Mobile, Rogers and Optus are also planning to offer.
Another Japan telco, NTT Docomo, is working on a HAPS project, aiming for commercial start in 2026.
In Australia, where two-thirds of the continent has no mobile coverage, Telstra and TPG Telecom are prepping sat-phone messaging trials with Lynk Global.
Formally, these integrated mobile and satellite services pre-figure 6G, where satellite is slated to be written into the standards.
But telcos weighed down by the cost of network rollouts may wonder, why stop there? Why not establish heterogeneity as a core principle of building networks?
That will enable them to take advantage of the huge Wi-Fi installed base and the fast-expanding satellite population while also sweating their 5G assets. It looks like a much more efficient way to achieve global connectivity without breaking the bank.
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